It's not often that you leave the supermarket checkout smiling but that's been the experience for many residents in the remote Western Australian community of Jigalong.

Located 150km east of Newman, Jigalong's community store has been trialling a new management system over the last three months that emphasises cheap, nutritious food.

Local resident Margie Samson has noticed some change, particularly in her hip pocket.

"When Outback took over and people would go shopping they'd have change in their hands. They were surprised, we wouldn't have any change in our hands before."

Jigalong is one of 33 communities around the country working with Outback Stores to manage local shops.

Following the successful trial, last week the company was issued a license to manage the Jigalong Community Store.

The company only works with communities that it's invited to and provides a manager and staff training opportunities for the local Martu people.

Jigalong youth worker Bernice Fred has been impressed by the emphasis placed on fresh produce.

"There's a lot of colour in the shop, different vegetables and fruits. Before there was only a small amount and it'd be gone before the next truck came in.

"We have two loads every fortnight, before it used to come once a month. That was too long, sometimes we had trouble because the shelves would be empty."

Ms Fred has also noticed a big difference in the savings she's made during her weekly shop.

"When I used to buy five bags full of food, it used to cost me over $150. I still buy the same food today and now it costs me $70 and that's a really big change."

She says that it used to cost her $50 to buy the ingredients to make spaghetti bolognese for her family of five, now it costs $19.

Outback Stores' CEO Steve Moore says in order for a community to take part, there are a few conditions.

"The store ownership remains with the community, we simply mange it for a fixed fee. Two of our key objectives are to provide affordable healthy food and Indigenous employment and training.

"The most important condition is no book-up, we will not manage a store that extends credit. We also ask the community to support the program we run in all of our stores and that's around subsiding the freight cost on fresh fruit and vegetables.

"It's something that we believe strongly in. It's not about restricting people, we still offer a full range of goods in the store. If you want to buy a pie and cola you can, but by the same token, if you want to buy a sandwich and a water you can, cheaply."

The license agreement between Jigalong Council and Outback Stores provides for shop profits to be invested back into the community and all store management decisions, including pricing, engagement of staff and stock lines, require approval of the all-Martu Jigalong Council.

Western Desert Lands Aboriginal Corporation (WDLAC) and Jigalong Council Chairman, Brian Samson, says the system has been so successful they're considering it for other local Martu communities, such as Cotton Creek and Well 33.